Your assistance is requested to share the attached announcement on the
International Conference on Water Related Disaster to be held in Dushanbe,
Tajikistan from 27 to 29 June 2008. Contact details on the conference are
included in the attached document and copied below.

Regards,
Kelly
DRMP Disaster Planning Consultant
UNDP Tajikistan


Conference Announcement and Call for Papers
International Conference on Water Related Disaster
Reduction
Sponsored by
The Government of the Republic of Tajikistan
United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR)
Focus Humanitarian Assistance
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ)
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SADC) and
The International Fund for Saving of Aral Sea (IFAS)

June 27 to 29, 2008
“Kohi Vahdat” Conference Center
Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Conference Rationale
Water-related disasters are a constant worldwide threat. Most water-related
disasters have trans-boundary impacts making cooperative efforts in
prevention, preparedness and disaster response essential. Tajikistan is an
important source of water for Central Asia but also the frequent victim of
water-related disasters. As a result, the country recognizes the critical
importance of trans-boundary efforts to effectively manage water supplies
and limit the impact of water-related disasters. This international
conference, organized in cooperation with the UNDP, ISDR, FOCUS, GTZ, OSCE,
SADC and IFAS, provides Tajikistan an opportunity to assist the world
community to reduce the impact of water-related disasters and improve living
conditions for all.
Conference Themes
•	Disaster Reduction and Implementation of the Millennium Development
Goals
•	Glaciers and Global Warming
•	Cooperation, Coordination and Disaster Management
•	Disasters in the Aral Sea Basin
•	Desertification
•	Monitoring of Glacial Outbreak Lakes
•	Dams, Disasters, and the Use of Water Energy Resources
•	Flood Control and Management
•	Capacity Building for National and Regional Disaster Management
Organizations
•	Public Participation in Reducing of Natural Disasters Impact.

Expected Outcomes
•	Increased public awareness about water related disasters, prevention
measures and easing disaster impacts
•	Mobilization of governments, the UN, regional structures, private
sector and civil society to build a stable society by forming a culture of
prevention and preparedness to deal with disasters
•	Involvement of an increased number of partners in goals of the
International Decade of Actions  “Water for Life”, 2005 – 2015 and the Hyogo
Framework Program for actions, which is an essential part of the Millennium
Goals Development
•	Consolidated cooperation and partnership at the national, regional
and international levels to reduce disasters and their consequences
•	Resolutions on “Water Related Disaster Management” to be presented
at the 1st Asian – Pacific Water Summit.

Participation and Official Submissions
Individuals and organizations are encouraged to participate in the
International Conference on Water Related Disaster Reduction through
attendance at plenary and working sessions, the submission of papers and
presentations and the chairing of specific sessions of interest.  Interested
individuals or organizations are encouraged to contact the Conference
Secretariat (see below) as soon as possible with expressions of interest to
attend the conference, present papers or propose or chair sessions. The
conference languages will be Russian and English.

Preliminary Conference Program Overview
(Subject to change)
27 June 2008 (Friday)
09.00 - 10.00     Opening Session
10.20 - 13.00     First Plenary Session: Climate Change and Water-Related
Disasters
13.00 - 14.30     Lunch Break
14.30 - 17.30     Three Parallel Working Group Sessions
                          Working Group 1 - Reducing water-related disaster
risks through dams
                          Working Group 2 - Mobilizing political will for
disaster risk reduction
                          Working Group 3 - Promoting international
cooperation for disaster risk reduction
14.30 - 17.30     Special Session 1- Strengthening Regional Cooperation for
Managing Water and Energy Resources in Central Asia
28 June 2008 (Saturday)
09.00 - 11.00     Second Plenary Session - Planning for Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management
11.00 - 13.00     Special Session 2 - Managing Aral Sea Basin: The Way
Forward
11.00 - 13.00     Special Session 3 - Ensuring Participation in Disaster
Management Decision Making
13.00 - 14.30     Lunch Break
14.30 - 17.00     Third Plenary Session - Strengthening Capacities for
Disaster Management
17.00 - 18.00     Closing Session
29 June 2008 (Sunday)
Field trip to Hydro-Energy Projects

Contact Information
International Conference on Water-Related Disaster
Reduction Conference Secretariat
12, Bohtar Str., Dushanbe, Tajikistan, 734000
Phone: (992 37) 221 71 63/64/66
Fax: (992 37) 21 71 65
E-mail:  [log in to unmask]
http://www.icwrdr2008.tj/eng/